Want to know what a lot of aspiring lead guitarists want to learn to do well when they first come to me?
Soulful minor blues soloing.
Players like David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, Gary Moore, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Page (just to name a few) all excel in this area.
There are some important things to get right in order to play soulful minor blues solos well.
Here are a couple to take into consideration.
Vibrato
I can’t imagine a soulful solo without vibrato. Vibrato is such an important part of soulful lead guitar playing that it’s crucial to get on top of it in order to play this style of soloing well.
Bending
Accurate, sustained bends are a really important technique for soulful playing. It’s important to make sure your bends are in tune and work on your ability to hold them at the peak.
Phrasing
Good phrasing is the essence of soulful minor blues soloing. Being able to phrase in a musical and conversational way is where soulful soloing starts.
Adding The Natural Minor or Harmonic Minor Scale
Adding the natural minor or harmonic minor scale within the minor pentatonic and minor blues scale can add an extra sense of melancholy to your solo. This can make it sound a lot more melodic and soulful.
The Occasional Burst of Speed
This one is optional, but throwing in the occasional (or not so occasional) fast lick can add a sense of drama and excitement to your solo that adds to the soulful element.